Apparatus for cleaning, sterilizing, and drying milk-cans.



No. 864,131. PATENTED AUG. 2d; 190%.- 0. H. HOOD. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, $TBRILIZING, AND DRYING MILK CANS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1. 1906. I

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A WM m AA 3% A A 1 l m\ C I I A I I r v I l I I v Iv PATENTED AUG. 20, 1907.

C. H. HOOD. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, STBRILIZING, AND DRYING MILK CANS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 AMT (Q'Z/meaaes CHARLES HTHOOD, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, STERILIZING, AND DRYING MILK-CANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed March 1,1906. Serial No. 303,643.

T 0 all whom it may concern,"

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Hoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvcm out in Apparatus for Cleaning, sterilizing, and Drying Milk-Cans, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Modern hygienic'requirements necessitate special cleanliness in the handling of milk, While at the same time the magnitude of city trade necessitates apparatus capable oi handling milk cans and the like in large numbers in a short time. Accordingly I have devised the hereinafter described apparatus which provides such arrangement and thoroughness that it can be relied upon not only to cleanse the cans thoroughly, but to sterilize and dry them thoroughly before they have reached the out-going end for inspection.

Stated in general terms, my invention may be said to comprise a washing section for thoroughly removing any greasy deposit, dirt or other substance from the inside and outside of the cans, a cleaning section to remove the suds and dirty Water used in washing, a sterilizing section, preferably consisting of a steaming portion, and a baking portion, and finally a drying section for thoroughly drying the inside of the cans just prior to their exit from the machine and their inspection.

The constructional details of my invention will be more fully pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention, and the latter will bemore particularly defined in the appended claims, forming part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation, parts being broken away for clearnessof illustration, one form of my apparatus, in which it is operated largely by hand. Fig. 2 isa top plan view thereof. 1 Fig. 3 is a detail of the brush operating mechanism. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged cross-sectional details taken 'on the lines 4-4 and 55 respectively, Fig. 1.

The problem of properly washing and sterilizing tin milk cans is much more, difiicult than if the'cans were composed of glass or other material, as it is not practicable to see 'anfdnternal ioulness, they quickly and readily rust, and as a rul they are abused and more carelessly treated before reaching the cleansing I. apparatus than is the case with glass cans and the like.

posely devised an apparatus in which the cans must halt individually for a considerable length of time at each stage in their progress, so that thereby they will be subjected to each distinct treatment for the requisite extent of time in spite of any negligence or haste on the part of the operator. I have herein shown my invention as hand-operated, this being the most simple embodiment of my invention, but I wish it understoodthat I am not limited thereto, as the required halting or step by step procedure may be secured by' left-hand end, being placed bottom-side-up, as indi-' cated in dotted lines at 4, to travel on a track 5, a wide space being left at one side thereof for the usual stopper I 6, (if used), secured by chain 7 to the handle 8 of the can. As soon as the can has .well entered the channel 2 or 3, it is subjected to a blast of warm plain water from a nozzle 9, internally, and from a nozzle 10, externally, to remove any loose superficial dirt, milk, ice, or the like, and then is moved along to other nozzles 11, 12, above and below, connecting with a pump 13 for subjecting the cans to a bath of hot soapwater, which is. herein shown as taken from a tank 14. The jets of hot soap-water or other cleansing fluid are played upon-the cans while they stand, over the jets 11,:and then the cans are moved ,forward to the open right-hand end of the chamber 1, where their upper ends come in contact with a U-shaped stop or hood 15, which arrests the upper end while the lower end continues forward, thereby giving the cans a tippingmovement as they drop into a tank 16, filled with the cleansing fluid 17, and the cans as they are filling with this cleansing fluid pass on to the right-hand end of said tank 16, where they are taken up one by one by an operator standing at that point, who forces them over a brush 18 for thoroughly scrubbing the inside surface. I-deem this step in the process desirable because, although the jets at 11 may be depended upon for cleansing the extreme bottom of the can, against which they have direct access, they cannot be de-.

pended upon for cleansing the neck and side walls, as they do not have such direct access thereto, and hence I deem it preferable to employ the brush-18, one being located at each side of thetank l6 and driven from a 1 belt 19, see Fig. 3, held tight against 'the spindles 20 of the brushes by an idler 21. Beyond the tank 16, and preferably slightly above the, same, is a closed passage-way, herein shown asdivided into four longitudinal compartments, 22, 23,24, 25, see Figs 2 and 4, open at their opposite'ends but otherwise .closed. In each of these passageways I provide tracks of any suitable kind, herein shown as consisting'of metal stopper 6 if used; otherwise the opposite sides will be alike and the rail omitted. At the extreme lefthand end of these passageways I provide a row of 11oz: zles 28, of which there may be one or more for c aeh longitudinal compartment. These nozzles'lead from a supply pipe 29 of clean water, controlled by a cock 30, so that as each can arrives in position over the nozzle 28 the soap-water or other cleansing compound is thoroughly washed from the can. Beyond the nozzle or nozzles 28 I provide one or more nozzles 31, connected to a steam pipe 32 and controlled by cocks 33 or other suitable means for delivering steam for sterilizing purposes. These successive nozzles are spaced apart at exactly the distance to bring them beneath the center of the open ends of the cans as the latter travel over them, tipped bottom-side-up. The steam jets deliver continuous blasts of devitalizing steam into the cans. Having passed the last steam jet, the cans travel through a long space, extending from about the point 34 to the point 35, Fig. l, of confined air, which constitutes a steaming or sterilizing oven, this space being of sufficient length to afford ample time for completing the killing of all the bacteria which might yet possibly, remain in the .can. This baking oven and the other portions of this part of the apparatus, are maintained in proper operative condition by a circulation system, in explaining which I will now mention the next portion of the compartment at the right-hand end of the apparatus, which is provided with hot air blasts 36, three thereof being herein shown for each compartment, supplied with dry hot air from a suitable source 37, and preferably controlled by hand dampers 38.

The nozzles 36, see Fig. 4, extend upward into position to deliver a strong blast of dry hot air, which is blown continuously into the cans as they haltover these successive nozzles. At a suitable place I provide a suction fan 39, or other means of causing a positive forward draft. This connects by a pipe 40 with the left-hand end of the compartments or passageways at 41, and preferably by a pipe 42 with the forward end at 43, dampers 44 and 45 being shown for properly regulating and balancing the circulating system. This exhaust apparatus may be varied widely and differently applied for accomplishing my purpose. The main object of the right-hand portion of the apparatus is to thoroughly sterilize and dry the cans, especially on the inside. As is well known, sterilization can be accomplished more rapidly in the presence of steam than if the air is absolutely dry. Hence I wish to have the oven portion of my apparatus, 1'. e. the part'extending from 34 to 35 say, capable of maintaining the cans in a moist sterilizing heat which shall be so uniform and of such high temperature thatthe sterilization will be thorough, and then after the cans have been thoroughly sterilized they must be as thoroughly dried so that they will not rust or for any other reason gather dirt or become foul, as they must if wet. Several features combine to secure these results. In the first place, the longitudinal compartments or passageways.

step through said passage ways. The forward movement of the cans tends to maintain a proper steaming condition in the highly heated central portion of the passage ways which I have called the oven portion, and the forced blasts of hot air at the opposite end serve to choke back said steam and retain it in said central portionf As, however, it is necessary to employ a large quantity of this superheated steam from the jets 3], more or less of said steam tends to escape from the entrance end of the passage way and this escaping steam is immediately caught by the suction apparatus 39, 40 and pulled away from the room, said suction apparatus being preferably so operated as to maintain the removal of this surplus steam without preventing, however, the proper amount of steam from flowing toward and into the ovenportion of the apparatus. The hot air blast furnishes suflicient hot air to absorb the greater portion of the steam which reaches that end of the oven and exhaust apparatus enables me, when necessary, to control the steam supply so as to prevent the steam from encroaching upon the drying portion of the apparatus. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2 I have broken away the outer portion of the drying apparatus, the latter being of considerable longitudinal extent in view of the fact that all moisture must be absolutely dried away before the cans reach the inspection table 46. Sometimes there is a large amount of moisture, especially in the cavity forming the bottoms of the cans. By maintaining a practically sterilizing heat from the moment that the cans reach the first nozzle 31 until substantially their exit onto the inspection table 46, I effect proper sterilization of the cans both inside and outside, and particularly on the inside, and thoroughly dry these tin cans before they have had access to the ordinary outside atmosphere and temperature, so that when they reach the latter they are in the proper condition, practically sterile, and in which outside bacteria would not easily multiply.

I have omitted to show herein in detail the inspection apparatus, as I have more fully shown and described the "same in connection with another embodiment of my present invention set forth in a conc urrent application. Doors 47 'are provided for thepurpose of access to the interior of the sterilizing oven or steam-bath that the train of cans, as he shoves them along by hand,

upon the insertion of each additional can, has a step-bystep or halting movement, which is an essential part of this embodiment of my invention, as I depend upon this movement to enablethe cans to be thoroughlyand fully treated by the successive jets, etc., of the appa ratus, First, the can is thoroughly washed with plain warmwater from the nozzles 9, 10, and next halts over the soap-water nozzles 11, 12, where it is thoroughly washed with cleansing fluid. Then the can is tipped by the tipping device 15 and dropped into the tank 16,-

a where it floats to the operator in front of the brush 18, over which it is placed and thoroughly scrubbed inside and outside. Ordinarily the cleansing will be ample without the brush 18. After this process the operator places the can bottom-side-up as before, in one of the passages 22-25, where it is shoved over the first jet 28, which thoroughly rinses the inside of the can with clean water. It halts in this position while the operator is attending to another can and placing it in the next passage, another operator meanwhile performing the same operations ,on the other side of the apparatus. Having placed a can in passageway 23, the next can is placed in passageway 22 again, which operates to shove all the cans along one step. The result is that the cans are brought over the steam jets 31, 31 for a considerable period of time, and are then in the sterilizing oven 34, 35 for a still longer period, the timing thereof being ample for thoroughly sterilizing the inside of the can. Inasmuch, however, as the cans reach this position thoroughly drenched, I have found it advisable to provide the hot air nozzles 36 for finally treating the inside of the can to a pressure blast of dry hot air, which completely carries away all remaining moisture from the interior of the can, so that when the can finally drops out onto theinspection table 46 it is absolutely dry inside and outsideas well as thoroughly sterilized.

It will be observed that the apparatus is so arranged that, although the cans have a slow step-by-step movement from the very beginning to the end of their treatment, they move more rapidly during the first portion of their treatment, being subjected to the initial washing process for the shortest period, then to the soap-water washing for a slightly longer period, then to the cleansing with clean water for approximately the same period, or perhaps very slightly longer, then to the steam sterilizing for a considerably longer period and t0 the oven sterilization for a yet longer period, while the hot air drying process is substantially as long. I have found that substantially the foregoing arrangement is thoroughly effective for accomplishing the best results. It will be understood, however, that various changes and substitutions may be resorted to Without departing from the scope of my invention, inasmuch as I believe that I am the first to have provided a milk-can sterilizing and drying apparatus. Also a further distinguishing feature of my invention resides in treating the tin cans in a closed passage way open at its ends, so that the cans themselves act to stop the passage way as they are moved step-by-step. This not only tends to economize the heat and prevent choking the room with steam, etc., but it maintains the cans from extraneous contamination from thetime theircleansing begins until they are turned out absolutely dry and sterilized. In

' fact, I believe it is impossible to accomplish these results properly without a closed passage or chamber.

Certain of the claims contained hereinafter are intended to be generic to the forms of my invention shown in my copending applications Ser. No. 340,335 and 340,336 filed Oct. 24, 1906. As already stated, I employ the Various jets and blasts in large volumes, and one function of the exhaust apparatus is to prevent the resulting surplus steam, moisture, etc., from escaping into the room. I have found that by directing the liquid with impinging force in large volumes against the surfaces of the caps and similarly employing large volumes of air within and without the cans, the circulation being forced or rapid under high pressure, superior results may be obtained notwithstanding a comparatively rapid forward movement of the cans through the passages. Of course it will be understood that the size of the nozzles as well as the kind and arrangement of the nozzles will be varied to suit different shapes and sizes of cans. For instance, in my above mentioned copending applications I have shown variations of my invention specifically adapted to different sizes and kinds of cans.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. A device for sterilizing milk cans, consisting of means for subjecting the interior of the cans to a live steam bath for a givgn length of time, means for thereafter subjecting the cans to a slower sterilizing process, and means for thereafter mechanically withdrawing the surplus moisture, for perfecting and hastening the sterilizing and drying of the cans.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passageway provided with means for receiving and transmitting inverted milk cans, said passageway having means adjacent one end for delivering to the interior of said cans jets of steam, means adjacent the opposite end for delivering to the interior of said cans blasts of hot air, and means intermediate said two ends for thoroughly baking the cans.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a passageway entirely closed excepting at its ends, approximately the size in crosssection of the tin milk cans to ,be treated, and containing means for enveloping said cans in a steam hath in said confined space, and means for thereafter subjecting said cans to a forced circulation of air.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passage Way open at its ends for receiving and transmittinga series of tin milk cans, means for delivering a copious supply of steam to said cans within said passage way, and an exhaust apparatus for preventing the surplus steam from escaping at said open ends.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passage Way open at its opposite ends to receive a series of milk cans following one another step by step through said passage way, means for subjecting said cans successively to jets of steam, means for thereafter enveloping said cans in a steam bath as they are moved forward, means for then drying said cans in an adjacent section of said passage way, and means for maintaining the steam in the steaming end of the passage way and away from the drying end of the passage way and for preventing the escape of the surplus steam into the room.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passageway open at its ends provided with means for receiving and transmitting inverted milk cans, said passageway having means adjacent one end for delivering to the interior of said cans jets of steam, means adjacent the opposite end for delivering to the interior of said cans blasts of hot air, means intermediate said two ends for thoroughly baking or steaming the cans, and means for removing any surplus steam liable otherwise to escape into the room.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passageway open at its ends, provided with means for receiving and transmitting inverted milk cans, said passageway having means adjacent one end for delivering to the interior of said cans jets of steam, means adjacent the opposite end for delivering to the interior of said cans blasts of air, means intermediate said two ends for thoroughly sterilizing the cans, and means for controlling the escape of steam from said passage way.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, a passageway provided with means for transmitting inverted milk cans in a series, means for delivering a jet of cleansing water to the interior of said cans, means for thereafter delivering steam to the interior of said cleansed cans, means for thereafter baking the cans as they pass along said passageway, and a suction apparatus connected to said passageway adjacent the entrance end thereof, for withdrawing the surplus steam and vapor. v

9. In an apparatus of the kind described, a closed passageway substantially the size and shape of the inverted cans to be treated for the reception of said inverted milk cans, sterilizing apparatus at one end thereof, drying apparatus at the other end thereof, and exhaust means for withdrawing all surplus moisture from said passageway.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described, means for subjecting the interior of the tin milk cans to a-bath of sterilizing steam for a given length of time, and means, including a forced air circulation, for thereafter mechanically withdrawing the surplus moisture, for perfecting and hastening the sterilizing and drying of the cans.

11. In an apparatus of the kind described, means for delivering to the interior of the cans a bath of cleansing fluid under pressure, means for subjecting the interior of the tin milk cans to a bath of sterilizing steam for a given length of time, and means, including a forced air circulation, for thereafter mechanically withdrawing the surplus moisture, for perfecting and hastening the sterilizing and drying of the cans. I

12. In an apparatus of the kind described, means for sterilizing steam for a given length of time, means including a forced air circulation for thereafter mechanically withdrawing the surplus moisture, for perfecting and has tening the sterilizing and drying of the cans, a passageway open at its ends for receiving and transmitting said milk cans, said passageway containing the aforesaid steaming means and forced'air circulation means, and means codperating therewith for controlling the escape of steam from said passageway.

13. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising inclosed ways for the passage of the cans, means for washing the cans, means for sterilizing the cans, and means for drying the cans, located to operate in succession on the .cans as they pass through the apparatus, said washing means including means for delivering a large volume of washing fluid under high pressure with direct impinging rapidly moving air under pressure within and without the cans as they pass along.

14. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising innet closed ways for the passage of the cans, means for washing the cans, means for sterilizing the cans, and means for drying the cans, located to operate in succession on the cans as they pass through the apparatus, and said drying means including means for delivering a great volume of rapidly moving air under pressure within and without the cans as they pass along.

15. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising inclosed ways for the passage of the cans, means for washing metal cans located at the forward part of the apparatus,

means for delivering a huge volume of drying air under rapid movement for drying said cans at the rear portion of the apparatus, and exhaust apparatus for confining said f rapidly moving volume of air within said confined ways i and preventing its escape into the room when chargedwith moisture.

16. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising an I inclosed way through which the cans may be moved, having width sufiicient to accommodate a plurality of series of subjecting the interior of the tin milk cans to a bath of said inclosed way for guiding the milk cans in separated columns, and a plurality of raised tracks independent of and separate from said depending guides for supporting f the cans, and a stopper track at one side of said supporting 5 tracks in position to receive the stoppers and maintain them in uniform alinement for passing freely along.

metal ca-ns, a plurality of depending guides at the top of 17. An apparatus for cleansing milk cans, comprising means for delivering a large volume of washing fluid under high pressure to the interior of a can, means for thereafter delivering a large volume of rinsing water to the interior of said can, means for then delivering a large volume of sterilizing fluid to the interior of the can, and means for finally delivering a large volume of drying air to the in- I terior of the can.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. HOOD.

Gno. H. MAXWELL,

M A. Jones. 

